Texas evangelical leader Robert Jeffress, the Baptist megachurch pastor who introduced Rick Perry at the Values Voter Summit, said Friday afternoon he does not believe Mitt Romney is a Christian.

Jeffress described Romney's Mormon faith as a cult, and said evangelicals had only one real option in the 2012 primaries. Continue Reading

That is a mainstream view, that Mormonism is a cult, Jeffress told reporters here. Every true, born again follower of Christ ought to embrace a Christian over a non-Christian.

Asked by POLITICO if he believed Romney is a Christian, Jeffress answered: No.

Jeffress's comments represent the first major attack of the 2012 cycle on Romney over his membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, an issue that some Romney supporters believe cost the former Massachusetts governor in his last presidential run.

The attack on Romney wasnt just faith-based. Jeffress called the Republican presidential candidate a conservative out of convenience who does not have a consistent track record on the subject of marriage, on the sanctity of life.

I just do not believe that we as conservative Christians can expect him to stand strong for the issues that are important to us, he said.

Jeffress said that he had not spoken with Perry about his views on Romney's faith and was in no way speaking for him. In an email, Perry campaign spokesman Robert Black said that the campaign didnt choose Jeffress to introduce Perry and does not share his view of Mormonism.

The Romney campaign did not respond to a request for comment, nor did the campaign of former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, the other Mormon candidate in the Republican presidential race.

Looking ahead to the general election, Jeffress warned that in a race between Romney and Obama, he believes many evangelicals will stay home and leave the GOP nominee without their votes.

I do not think evangelical voters are going to be motivated to go out and vote for Mitt Romney, he said. The conservative Christian leader said that he himself would vote for Romney and does not doubt that he is a good man.

I think hes a fine family person, Jeffress explained. It is only faith in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone that qualifies you as a Christian.

Jeffress said he does not believe that Mormonism is a disqualifier for the presidency, pointing out that constitutionally, the government can impose no religious test.

...not because hes a Mormon, but because he is the lowest life form on the planet....a billionaire from Wall St. He will be toast. The GOP would be absolutely crazy to nominate such easy prey for BO and the Dems to devour.

Wow...kitty. I think you just nailed it. It makes perfect sense! The reason the "Occupy Wall St." useful idiots can't articulate why they are there, is because they are being used as pawns by the left to start to foment another reason NOT to vote for Mittens should he get the nomination. They are already starting to run against him with this tactic. Let's just hope they blow their wad on this tactic, then Herman Cain ends up the nominee!! :)

"Each of these titles point to the truth that Jesus Christ is the only way by which we can return to live with our Heavenly Father"

Christian belief is that life begins at conception. Mormons believe everyone preexists as angels, and some are born into this world. Thus, those that are saved get to "return".

They also believe "As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become.", to quote fifth LDS President Lorenzo Snow. Joseph Smith even said "Here then is eternal life - to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God the same as all Gods have done before you." Brigham Young is quoted saying "The Lord created you and me for the purpose of becoming Gods like Himself."

You could argue these are not mainstream Christian doctrines, but rather are the antithesis of monotheism. Thus, you could argue Romney is not a "Christian".

Again, I just don’t find much in terms of intelligent discussion but moderate or hardcore anti-Mormon spokespersons.

If you go back to the early centuries of Christianity (Cnstantinople meetings), the evidence of apostasy in terms of the knowledge of God, his son and the Holy Ghost was already lost to the World. That’s where the Catholic church was derived from that we have today, and the Lutheran revisions, while good intentioned, was still coming from an apostate foundation.

Perry’s not responsible...and Romney’s not a Christian. Mormons are not Christians. It’s a weird syncretist cult that has some figures from the Jewish and Christian scriptures in it, just as Islam does, but it’s not Christian.

In Utah the vote was 94% for Romney, so it really is MOST will vote Romney because he is a mormon.
__________________________________

Do you have statistics that show why Utahan’s voted for him? I’m sure there’s polling data somewhere. You seem to be either forgetting or intentionally leaving out the fact that Mitt was a hometown hero after saving the Olympics in Utah.

As an example, you are writing much about the jesus as the only yet lds AofF state:
Articles of Faith: #3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

Not Grace of Jesus but works by self.

Then there is this question which jesus are you speaking of?
Even your own leaders do not beleive in the Biblical Jesus:
“In bearing testimony of Jesus Christ, President Hinckley spoke of those outside the Church who say Latter-day Saints ‘do not believe in the traditional Christ.’ ‘No, I don’t. The traditional Christ of whom they speak is not the Christ of whom I speak. For the Christ of whom I speak has been revealed in this the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times. He together with His Father, appeared to the boy Joseph Smith in the year 1820, and when Joseph left the grove that day, he knew more of the nature of God than all the learned ministers of the gospel of the ages.’” (LDS Church News Week ending June 20, 1998, p. 7).

50
posted on 10/07/2011 6:08:24 PM PDT
by svcw
(Those who are easily shocked... should be shocked more often. - Mae West)

I could care less that he's a Mormon, I have no problems with that at all. What I have a problem with is he switches his positions based on what he's running for, he has no core values, and he is perfectly willing to buy his way into the WH.

I also have a problem with the fact that he trades on his religion and he's going to expect that other Mormons will vote for him strictly because of it. That is nothing against the other Mormons, it's against him for trading on it.

51
posted on 10/07/2011 6:08:30 PM PDT
by McGavin999
(Please don't be a Freeploader, help to keep the lights on.)

The Mormon people have been strong GOP backers all my life, nothing like throwing an entire state under the bus.

Gotta agree. Mormons are generally very, very solid Americans and vote very conservatively.

While I wouldn't necessarily refer to Mormonism as a cult, I don't think they are Christians. Just the same, that has nothing to do with why I don't care for Romney. The problem with Mitt is he a flip flopper, with a not particularly conservative record (and that's being generous).

Still, everyone knew this was coming and many Christians are not going to be terribly excited about voting for a Mormon.

What is it the paper said which is incorrect? lds have secret temple ceremonies and all that goes with that. Enlighten us about what was said is wrong, rather than attacking the poster personally, if you are able that is.

58
posted on 10/07/2011 6:12:26 PM PDT
by svcw
(Those who are easily shocked... should be shocked more often. - Mae West)

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